SAIT Trojans women’s volleyball killing it 5-2 overall in early season play

Amy Chailler, middle, diving for ball at SAIT in Calgary on Oct. 26, 2018. The match was against Red Deer College. The Trojans won 3-1 putting them at 5-2 overall for the season. (Photo by Shilo Robson/The Press)

SAIT Trojans women’s volleyball is charging ahead with a 5-2 overall for the season, putting the team in the top four of the standings for Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Volleyball.

The team is already at its projected spot for the season according to coach Art O’Dwyer, who has been expecting the team to be competitive with everyone they have faced so far.

“We’re about where I thought we’d be,” said O’Dwyer in an interview.

“I think it’s going to pretty close, it’s been one of those ones where we’ve been in all of our matches. So yeah, we’re where I thought we would be.”

His thoughts are also shared by the team setter Elly Prince, who believes the team is going to keep getting better.

“I think we are going to get a lot better,” said Prince.

“We are definitely going to compete in this league.”

The team has been hit with some challenges this season with sick and injured players, causing the number of players at practices to be an issue.

“We haven’t been able to do as much in practice as I’d like,” said O’Dwyer.

“But that’s the only challenge we’ve had so far.”

Taylor Ellis, middle right, spiking ball back during volleyball game at SAIT in Calgary on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. The match was held against Red Deer College. (Photo by Shilo Robson/The Press)

Despite the low attendance at practice, O’Dwyer has plans to keep the development of the team up by working on the technical aspect of the game.

“Players tend to think about tactical all the time and we need to think more about technical. I think that’s really important.” said O’Dwyer.

During its game on Oct. 26th, the team won 3-1 against Red Deer College, in a four-set match.

The Trojans kept up a solid 25 points each for three sets, losing just once in the third set that reached up into the 30’s.

Despite the loss. Coach O’Dwyer was happy for the opportunity to be in that situation, giving the players a chance to see how they would react.

“You can go a whole season and not get that. It’s very important because later on in the season if we get there we know we’ve been there.”

Prince was equally excited about the match, going on to talk about the adrenaline rush and pressure they faced during that set.

“It’s pressure. It was really exciting for us to be in a match like that,” said Prince.

“For it to go on as long as it did, I thought it was fun.”

The Trojans would go on to win against Red Deer College again the next day, putting them at a four-win streak. November’s games were on Nov. 16th against Olds College, and Nov. 24th against Medicine Hat College.